Wheelchair curling
Wheelchair curling is an adaptation of curling for people with physical disabilities. Since the Paralympic Games in Turin 2006, the sport is an official discipline of the Paralympics.
- 2.1 The Stick
- 2.2 The stone delivery
- 2.3 The Stone
History
Since 1998 the Swiss Curling Association along with the wheelchair sports organization to a curling training program in the various curling rinks. Under Swiss Championships and international competitions, the first unofficial world championship was held in the near Luzern in Sursee. These rapid progress, not only in Switzerland but also in Denmark, Sweden, Scotland, France and the Czech Republic, have shown that curling is an attractive sport for paraplegics and quadriplegics. After the International Paralympic Committee in 2004, the National Wheelchair Curling officially included in the Paralympic sports with and made his debut in 2006 celebrated with a victory for the Canadians in Turin, was in some curling clubs, also in Germany, eagerly training for the next 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver. There are now about 25 nations where wheelchair curling is operated. Here in China, Finland and Slovakia are represented with new. International World and Continental Championships are played
Regulate
The game is played according to the rules of the World Curling Federation, which has adapted the rules for wheelchair curling. Wheelchair Curling is in Germany still a young sport and is played officially since 2003. The main difference to pedestrian curling is that is not wiped. On a 43m long, specially prepared ice alternately special stones are slid across the ice by two teams playing against each other. A team consists of four players, including a lady. The team that has occur after the delivery of eight stones at least one separate stone closest to a specially marked circle will be credited for this points. The team that has scored after 8 passes, the most points won the game. One can compare it with chess on ice. Every single player is highly concentrated in its stone donations to make the best possible move. The decisive factor here is the skip ( team leader ) that determines in most cases, the tactical approach. In this case there are an infinite variety of moves, which can be tactically respond accordingly.
Play
The stick
The stick, a telescoping handle is the player's extended arm and can be changed in length as needed. With it, the stone is placed and played in the direction. In this case, the stone is given the necessary " handle". It is fitted at the end with a receptacle that allows to grasp the handle of the stone.
The stone delivery
The great difficulty, as it were, but also the great challenge for the individual player is to the stone in the well 40 meters away lying destination. cm - or mm - exact place. This requires a sophisticated technique is needed, which has to be trained as often and as enduring while wheelchair curling as in pedestrian curling. The entire motion sequence is therefore already been anticipated in thought during the concentration phase ( anticipated ) and is aimed at the intended target at the other end of the track. Another special feature of the wheelchair curling is that the piece must be played accurately in terms of length, direction, and Curl, since exposure of the broom is not allowed and thus the stone after the discharge is not influenced.
The stone
Weighs max. 19.96 kg (including handle and bolt ), a circumference of 91.44 cm must not exceed and is made of granite. The running surface is ground in a ring shape. To compare with a saucer. The stone is delivered either by hand or with a "stick" when wheelchair curling. The player must try to play the stone into the opposite house with just the turn corresponding force the stone with the help of the stick and the necessary handle. The use of force varies depending on the task. If, for example, an opponent's stone to be played out of the house ( Take Out ) must match the stone to be played fast. The use of force is therefore unlike a Draw ( laying stone) very dynamic.
Important Tournaments
- Wheelchair curling at the Winter Paralympics
- Wheelchair Curling World Cup